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Committee adopts amendment to criminalize intentional drone surveillance of school grounds without permission
Summary
An amendment to HB 21‑47 makes it an offense to knowingly use a drone to conduct surveillance of school grounds without permission from school administrators; Nolan Combs (Tennessee School Boards Association) and legal services explained the bill targets intent to surveil and exempts law‑enforcement activity.
Representative Jones explained that the amendment focuses narrowly on unmanned aircraft used to intentionally surveil school grounds without permission from a school administrator, director of schools or designee. "...the drone use would have to be, 1, capturing images or video, 2, the user would have to have an intent to surveil, the students or property," Nolan Combs of the Tennessee School Boards Association said in committee discussion.
Legal services clarified the bill does not apply to law enforcement acting within the scope of lawful duties and that permission from a school administrator would negate the offense. Members asked about municipal drones and rogue employees; the sponsor and Nolan Combs said the bill targets the actor's intent, not ownership of the drone. HB 21‑47 as amended was voted to full judiciary (7 ayes, 0 no, 1 present not voting).
